Your first 10 products journey
ThisisexactlywhatIdidn'tknowIneeded.
The terror of shipping
When we shipped our first 10 orders, we were terrified. Would the packaging survive transit? Would the products match expectations? Would anyone actually care about what we'd built?
Customer #1
Customer #1 was a designer in Kandy who ordered a minimal desk organizer. She messaged us a photo of it on her desk, in golden afternoon light, with the caption: 'This is exactly what I didn't know I needed.' We printed that message and pinned it to our workshop wall.
This is exactly what I didn't know I needed.
The most valuable return
Customer #4 returned his order. The surface finish on one side had visible layer lines that didn't match the product photos. He was right. It was a quality control gap that we'd missed. We refunded immediately, reprinted at a finer layer height, and shipped a replacement with a handwritten apology.
That return was the most valuable feedback we've ever received. It led us to implement a multi-stage QC process: visual inspection, dimensional checks, surface finish grading, and a 'desk test' where we place every product in a real environment before shipping.
Every order is the first
By customer #10, we had learned more about running a product business than any course could teach. We learned that packaging is part of the product. That unboxing creates an emotional first impression. That follow-up messages matter. That every single interaction is a chance to build trust.
Today, we're well past our first 10, but we still treat every order like it's the first. Because for that customer, it is.